Persistent rotation

ABSTRACT

A gaming system is disclosed. An award is made in respect to a winning outcome, and an additional award is made if the winning outcome corresponds to one of a set of active conditions displayed on a display area.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application relates to and claims the benefit of priorityfrom U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/296,979, filed on Jan.21, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present invention generally relates to a slot machine having adisplay area that displays any currently active conditions, andparticularly but not exclusively to a slot machine that also makes anadditional award upon there being a winning outcome which corresponds toan active condition.

BACKGROUND

Slot machines having either mechanical reels or a video displaysimulating mechanical reels are known.

While such gaming systems provide players with enjoyment, a need existsfor alternative gaming systems in order to maintain or increase playerenjoyment.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a gamingsystem including:

a plurality of symbol display positions;

a display area; and

a game controller operatively coupled to the plurality of symbol displaypositions and the display area, and configured to:

-   -   cause the display area to display any currently active condition        of a set of conditions;    -   select symbols for display in each of the display positions;    -   evaluate the displayed symbols to determine whether the symbols        correspond to one or more winning outcomes of a plurality of        possible winning outcomes, at least two of the possible winning        outcomes corresponding to different conditions of the set of        conditions;    -   make an award in respect of each winning outcome; and    -   make an additional award upon there being a winning outcome        which corresponds to an active condition.

In an embodiment, the additional award is an award of one or more freegames. The one or more free games may be a series of free games.

In an embodiment, the additional award is an award of an additionalprize.

In an embodiment, the additional award is an award of a feature game.

In an embodiment, more than one of the conditions constituting the setof conditions may be arranged on the display area. The active conditionmay be indicated. The active condition may be indicated by an indicatorassociated with the display area. The more than one conditions may bearranged in a circle on the display area. The circle of the plurality ofconditions may rotate. The indicator may rotate. The rotation of eitherthe one or both of the indicator and circle may change the activecondition. The rotation may be persistent. The indicator may include alight.

In an embodiment, the controller is arranged to recurrently change atleast one of the any currently active condition. The controller may bearranged to change the active condition after one of: a designatednumber of symbol selections; a designated number of plays of the game; adesignated time period.

In an embodiment, the display area includes the face of a timepieceincluding one or more hands.

In an embodiment, each of the plurality of symbol display positions hasa respective reel, each reel having at least some of the plurality ofsymbols.

In an embodiment, the gaming system includes an electronic display. Theplurality of reels may be simulated on the electronic display. Thedisplay area may be on the or another electronic display.

In an embodiment, each condition of the set of conditions is representedby one of the signs of the zodiac.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a gamecontroller configured to be operatively coupled to a plurality of symboldisplay positions and a display area, and further configured to:

cause the display area to display any currently active condition of aset of conditions;

select symbols for display in each of the display positions;

evaluate the displayed symbols to determine whether the symbolscorrespond to one or more winning outcomes of a plurality of possiblewinning outcomes, at least two of the possible winning outcomescorresponding to different conditions of the set of conditions;

make an award in respect of each winning outcome; and

make an additional award upon there being a winning outcome whichcorresponds to an active condition.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a methodincluding the steps of:

causing a display area to display any currently active condition of aset of conditions;

selecting symbols for display in each of a plurality of symbol displaypositions;

evaluating the displayed symbols to determine whether the symbolscorrespond to one or more winning outcomes of a plurality of possiblewinning outcomes, at least two of the possible winning outcomescorresponding to different conditions of the set of conditions;

making an award in respect of each winning outcome; and

making an additional award upon there being a winning outcome whichcorresponds to an active condition.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided acomputer program including instructions for controlling a computer toimplement a method in accordance with the third aspect of the invention.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided atangible computer readable medium providing computer program inaccordance with the fourth aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Certain exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a stand alone gamingmachine;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the core components of an embodiment of agaming system;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an embodiment;

FIGS. 4 and 5 each show an example of each of a set of conditionsdisplayed on a display area.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the functional components of an embodimentof a gaming machine;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the functionalcomponents of a memory;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a network gamingsystem; and

FIG. 9 is a further block diagram of an embodiment of a gaming system.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofcertain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understoodwhen read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in thedrawings. It should be understood, however, that the present inventionis not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in theattached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EXAMPLES

Referring to the drawings, there are shown various embodiments of agaming system having a game controller arranged to implement a game.

Although the following discloses example methods, systems, articles ofmanufacture, and apparatus including, among other components, softwareexecuted on hardware, it should be noted that such methods and apparatusare merely illustrative and should not be considered as limiting. Forexample, it is contemplated that any or all of these hardware andsoftware components could be embodied exclusively in hardware,exclusively in software, exclusively in firmware, or in any combinationof hardware, software, and/or firmware. Accordingly, while the followingdescribes example methods, systems, articles of manufacture, andapparatus, the examples provided are not the only way to implement suchmethods, systems, articles of manufacture, and apparatus.

When any of the appended claims are read to cover a purely softwareand/or firmware implementation, at least one of the elements in an atleast one example is hereby expressly defined to include a tangiblemedium such as a memory, DVD, CD, etc. storing the software and/orfirmware.

A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine 10 isillustrated in FIG. 1. The gaming machine 10 includes a console 12having a display 14 on which are displayed representations of a gamethat can be played by a player.

Irrespective of the form, the gaming system has several core componentsillustrated in FIG. 2. At the broadest level, the core components are aplayer interface 50 and a game controller 60 as illustrated in FIG. 2.The game controller 60 may cause the system 10 to perform the methodrepresented by the flow chart in FIG. 3. The player interface isarranged to enable manual interaction between a player and the gamingsystem and for this purpose includes the input/output components for theplayer to enter instructions to play the game and observe the gameoutcomes.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram representative of example machine readableinstructions that can be executed to implement one or more of theexample systems shown and described herein and/or portions of one ormore of those systems. The example process(es) of FIG. 3 can beperformed using a processor, a controller and/or any other suitableprocessing device, such as the game controller 60 and/or other componentof system 10. For example, the example process(es) of FIG. 3 can beimplemented using coded instructions (e.g., computer readableinstructions) stored on a tangible computer readable medium such as aflash memory, a read-only memory (ROM), and/or a random-access memory(RAM). As used herein, the term tangible computer readable medium isexpressly defined to include any type of computer readable storage andto exclude propagating signals. Additionally or alternatively, theexample process(es) of FIG. 3 can be implemented using codedinstructions (e.g., computer readable instructions) stored on anon-transitory computer readable medium such as a flash memory, aread-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a cache, or anyother storage media in which information is stored for any duration(e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, brief instances, fortemporarily buffering, and/or for caching of the information). As usedherein, the term non-transitory computer readable medium is expresslydefined to include any type of computer readable medium and to excludepropagating signals.

Alternatively, some or all of the example process(es) of FIG. 3 can beimplemented using any combination(s) of application specific integratedcircuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s)), fieldprogrammable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)), discrete logic, hardware,firmware, etc. Also, some or all of the example process(es) of FIG. 3can be implemented manually or as any combination(s) of any of theforegoing techniques, for example, any combination of firmware,software, discrete logic and/or hardware. Further, although the exampleprocess(es) of FIG. 3 is described with reference to the flow diagram ofFIG. 3, other methods of implementing the process(es) of FIG. 3 can beemployed. For example, the order of execution of the blocks can bechanged, and/or some of the blocks described can be changed, eliminated,sub-divided, or combined. Additionally, any or all of the exampleprocess(es) of FIG. 3 can be performed sequentially and/or in parallelby, for example, separate processing threads, processors, devices,discrete logic, circuits, etc.

As shown in the example of FIG. 3, at block 310, a display area, such asdisplay area 16, is caused, such as by the game controller 60, todisplay any currently active condition of a set of conditions. At block320, selection of symbols is facilitated, such as by the game controller60, for display in each of a plurality of symbol display positions. Atblock 330, the display symbols are evaluated, such as using the gamecontroller 60, to determine whether the symbols correspond to one ormore winning outcomes of a plurality of possible winning outcomes, atleast two of the possible winning outcomes corresponding to differentconditions of the set of conditions. At block 340, an award is made inrespect of each winning outcome. At block 350, an additional award ismade upon there being a winning outcome which corresponds to an activecondition.

The gaming system 10 presents to a player of the game a plurality ofsimulated reels on an electronic display 14. In another embodiment, thereels may be mechanical and maybe additional to the electronic display.The game controller is operatively coupled to each of the reels andcauses the reels to spin and stop to display a symbol at a respectivesymbol display position. The game controller is also operatively coupledto a display area, such as 16, on the electronic display 14.

The controller causes any currently active conditions of a set ofconditions to be displayed on the display area 16. For example, each ofthe set of conditions may have an associated symbol which is displayedif the respective condition is active. In one embodiment, the conditionsmay each be associated with one of the signs of the zodiac, such asshown in FIG. 4. It will be appreciated, however, that any suitablesymbol (for example a suit, fruit, coins, flowers, etc) may be employed.

In this embodiment, zodiac signs, such as cancer, each corresponding toone of a set of conditions, are arranged on the display area in a circle70. Although more than one condition is displayed in this example, thatdoes not necessarily mean that all of the conditions are currentlyactive. Only one or some of the displayed conditions may be active. Inthis example there is only one active condition. The active condition isindicated, at least in this example, by an indicator in the form of anarrow 74. In an alternative embodiment, the active condition may beindicated by the associated symbol lighting up or highlighting theactive symbols by generally any suitable way. Alternatively, a needle orhand may be placed adjacent the wheel.

In this example, the wheel rotates and the symbol closest to the head ofthe arrow 74 is taken to be the active symbol. In an alternativeembodiment, the circle of zodiacs signs is stationary and the indicatorrotates around the circumference of the circle 70. The relative rotationbetween the circle of zodiac symbols and indicator causes the change incondition. In another embodiment, both the circle and indicator mayrotate. The rotation may be constant and persistent, or it may bevariable or even random. Generally any pattern of rotation, or anymechanism or means to change the active symbol may be employed.

In some embodiments, the controller 60 evaluates the symbols displayedat the symbol display positions, once the reels have stopped, todetermine whether the symbols correspond to one or more winning outcomesof a plurality of possible winning outcomes.

The controller 60 then makes an award in respect to the winning outcome.An additional award is made by the controller 60 upon there being awinning outcome which corresponds to an active condition.

In one example, if the game has a free game feature, and if the playerwon a base game involving three or more cancer symbols while in theconstellation Cancer (i.e. the indicator 74 shows cancer to be active)then the free game feature would be triggered. The sign associated withthe active condition, however, need not visually correspond with thesymbols of the winning outcome.

In another example, the active condition may be represented by a coin,and the winning combination three kings. In this example, theassociation is notional and conceptual that kings are rich.

FIG. 5 shows another example in which the display 14 is displaying signsassociated with respective conditions that may be active. In thisexample, a night sky is shown in the display area 16. One or more,perhaps all, of the zodiac signs are visible and the active one isindicated by any suitable mechanism or means, such as its positionrelative to the display area, its position relative to the other symbolsor the use of a highlighting feature such as a circle circling theactive condition or conditions, for example. Generally, any mechanism ormeans to show the active symbol or symbols can be used.

In another embodiment, the display area includes a face of a timepieceincluding one or more hands, such as an analogue clock. As a hand movesaround the active condition changes. For example, if it is one o'clock,then the active condition is associated with one o'clock. The activecondition may be associated with the period of time between two hours,for example or a particular quadrant of the time piece or any othersuitable configuration. In one example, an additional award is given ifa winning symbol combination is made when the second hand strikes 12.The hands on the clock may rotate persistently, as for a standard clock,or may even behaviour erratically.

The controller evaluates the displayed symbols and determines if thesymbols displayed by the reels once stopped correspond to one or morewinning outcomes, and if so determined, make an award with respect tothe winning outcome. A winning outcome may be, for example, 3 or more ofthe same suit or symbol. If the winning outcome corresponds to an activecondition the controller may make an additional award.

The additional award may be, for example, one or more free games,possibly a series of free games, a feature game, or an additional prize.

In one embodiment, only one of the conditions is active at any time. Forexample, a single sign of the zodiac may be displayed on the displayarea, the zodiac sign being indicative of which condition is active. Thecontroller may recurrently changes the active condition and changes thecorresponding displayed symbol or sign on the display to indicate thechange in the active condition.

The active condition may be changed by the controller after, forexample, a designated number of symbol selections. Alternatively, aftera designated number of plays of the game the symbol may be changed bycontroller. In another embodiment, the active condition may be changedafter a designated time period. In all of these examples, the displayedsymbol associated with the active condition may be changed when theactive condition is changed by the controller.

In another embodiment, more than one active condition is displayed inthe display area. For example, the symbols for Aries, Aquarius andCancer may be displayed on the screen. If a winning outcome on the reelsincludes one or more of these symbols then, in this example, the winningoutcome corresponds to at least one of the active conditions and anadditional prize can be determined accordingly. The additional prize, inthis example, is a number of free games, the number of free games beingequal to the number of matches between the symbols on the reel in thedisplayed positions and the active conditions displayed on the displayarea. For example, if the reel showed Cancer, Aries and Aquarius and allthree conditions are active then three free games would be provided. Itwill be appreciated that calculation of the additional award may followany suitable plan and is not limited to the above example.

Of course the symbols on the reels and the symbol associated with theactive condition need not be the same or even similar. For example, theactive condition may be represented by a monarch's head and the symboldisplayed in the symbol display positions may each be fruit.

The gaming system can take a number of different forms. In a first formas shown in FIG. 1, a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein allor most components to implement the game are present in a playeroperable gaming machine.

In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided wherein some ofthe components to implement the game are present in a player operablegaming machine and some of the components to implement the game arelocated remotely relative to the gaming machine. For example, a “thickclient” architecture may be used wherein part of the game is executed ona player operable gaming machine and part of the game is executedremotely, such as by a gaming server; or a “thin client” architecturemay be used wherein most of the game is executed remotely such as by agaming server and a player operable gaming machine is used only todisplay audible and/or visible gaming information to the player andreceive gaming inputs from the player.

However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged.For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine isnetworked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gamingmachine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example,the gaming system may operate in stand alone gaming machine mode, “thickclient” mode or “thin client” mode depending on the game being played,operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent topersons skilled in the art.

Each gaming system has a game controller 60 operatively coupled to thereels and/or the electronic display(s) which are collectively indicatedby numeral 54 in FIG. 2. In one embodiment there is a single electronicdisplay and the reels are simulated on the display.

Components of the player interface may vary from embodiment toembodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism 52 to enable aplayer to input credits and receive payouts, one or more displays suchas the reel and an electronic (or video) display 54, a game playmechanism 56 including one or more input devices that enable a player toinput game play instructions (e.g. to place a wager), and one or morespeakers 58.

The game controller 60 is in data communication with the playerinterface and typically includes a processor 62 that processes the gameplay instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputs gameplay outcomes to the displays. Typically, the game play rules are storedas program code in a memory 64 but can also be hardwired. Herein theterm “processor” is used to refer generically to any device that canprocess game play instructions in accordance with game play rules andmay include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logicdevice or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. aPC) or a server.

Further details of the gaming system of FIG. 1 will now be described. Amid-trim 20 of the gaming machine 10 houses a bank of buttons 22 forenabling a player to interact with the gaming machine, in particularduring game play. The mid-trim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism24 which in this example includes a coin input chute 24A and a billcollector 24B. Other credit input mechanisms may also be employed, forexample, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or creditcard. Other gaming machines may configure for ticket in such that theyhave a ticket reader for reading tickets having a value and creditingthe player based on the face value of the ticket. A player marketingmodule (not shown) having a reading device may also be provided for thepurpose of reading a player tracking device, for example as part of aloyalty program. The player tracking device may be in the form of acard, flash drive or any other portable storage medium capable of beingread by the reading device. In some embodiments, the player marketingmodule may provide an additional credit mechanism, either bytransferring credits to the gaming machine from credits stored on theplayer tracking device or by transferring credits from a player accountin data communication with the player marketing module.

A top box 26 may carry artwork 28, including for example pay tables anddetails of bonus awards and other information or images relating to thegame. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a frontpanel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the frontpanel 29 for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine 10.

The display 14 shown in FIG. 1 is in the form of a video display unit,particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, thedisplay 14 may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any othersuitable video display unit, or the visible portion of anelectromechanical device. The top box 26 may also include a display, forexample a video display unit, which may be of the same type as thedisplay 14, or of a different type.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of operative components of a typical gamingmachine which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine ofFIG. 1.

The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101 having a processor102 mounted on a circuit board. Instructions and data to controloperation of the processor 102 are stored in a memory 103, which is indata communication with the processor 102. Typically, the gaming machine100 will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than oneof each type of memory, with such memories being collectivelyrepresented by the memory 103. It will be appreciated that the memoriesare one example of tangible media, as are, for example, hard drives,flash memory etc.

The gaming machine has hardware meters 104 for purposes includingensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, aninput/output (I/O) interface 105 for communicating with peripheraldevices of the gaming machine 100. The input/output interface 105 and/orthe peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memoryfor storing associated instructions and data for use with theinput/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random numbergenerator module 113 generates random numbers for use by the processor102. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference torandom numbers includes pseudo-random numbers.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, a player interface 120 includesperipheral devices that communicate with the game controller 101including one or more displays such as electronic display(s) and reels106, a touch screen and/or buttons 107 (which provide a game playmechanism), a card and/or ticket reader 108, a printer 109, a billacceptor and/or coin input mechanism 110 and a coin output mechanism111. Additional hardware may be included as part of the gaming machine100, or hardware may be omitted based on the specific implementation.For example, while buttons or touch screens are typically used in gamingmachines to allow a player to place a wager and initiate a play of agame any input device that enables the player to input game playinstructions may be used. For example, in some gaming machines amechanical handle is used to initiate a play of the game.

In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communicationsinterface, for example a network card 112. The network card may, forexample, send status information, accounting information or otherinformation to a bonus controller, central controller, server ordatabase and receive data or commands from the bonus controller, centralcontroller, server or database. In embodiments employing a playermarketing module, communications over a network may be via playermarketing module—i.e. the player marketing module may be in datacommunication with one or more of the above devices and communicate withit on behalf of the gaming machine.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplarymemory 103. The memory 103 includes RAM 103A, EPROM 103B and a massstorage device 103C. The RAM 103A typically temporarily holds programfiles for execution by the processor 102 and related data. The EPROM103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or gamerelated code. The mass storage device 103C is typically used to storegame programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/orauthenticated by the processor 102 using protected code from the EPROM103B or elsewhere.

It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine100 to be distributed, for example input/output devices 106, 107, 108,109, 110, 111 to be provided remotely from the game controller 101.

FIG. 8 shows a gaming system 200 in accordance with an alternativeembodiment. The gaming system 200 includes a network 201, which forexample may be an Ethernet network. Gaming machines 202, shown arrangedin three banks 203 of two gaming machines 202 in FIG. 7 are connected tothe network 201. The gaming machines 202 provide a player operableinterface and may be the same as the gaming machines 10, 100 shown inFIGS. 1 and 6, or may have simplified functionality depending on therequirements, rules, guidelines, and/or preferences for implementinggame play. While banks 203 of two gaming machines are illustrated inFIG. 8, banks of one, three or more gaming machines are also envisaged.

One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. Forexample, the displays 204 may be associated with one or more banks 203of gaming machines. The displays 204 may be used to displayrepresentations associated with game play on the gaming machines 202,and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional orinformational material.

In a thick client embodiment, game server 205 implements part of thegame played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gamingmachine 202 implements part of the game. With this embodiment, as boththe game server and the gaming device implement part of the game, theycollectively provide a game controller. A database management server 206may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloadingor access by the gaming devices 202 in a database 206A. Typically, ifthe gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, aJackpot server 207 will be provided to perform accounting functions forthe Jackpot game. A loyalty program server 212 may also be provided.

In a thin client embodiment, game server 205 implements most or all ofthe game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gamingmachine 202 essentially provides only the player interface. With thisembodiment, the game server 205 provides the game controller. The gamingmachine will receive player instructions, pass these to the game serverwhich will process them and return game play outcomes to the gamingmachine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machinescould be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software that provides aplayer interface operable using standard computer input and outputcomponents. Other client/server configurations are possible, and furtherdetails of a client/server architecture can be found in WO 2006/052213and PCT/SE2006/000559, the disclosures of which are incorporated hereinby reference.

Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration ofthe gaming network 200, including for example a gaming floor managementserver 208, and a licensing server 209 to monitor the use of licensesrelating to particular games. An administrator terminal 210 is providedto allow an administrator to run the network 201 and the devicesconnected to the network.

The gaming system 200 may communicate with other gaming systems, otherlocal networks, for example a corporate network, and/or a wide areanetwork such as the Internet, for example through a firewall 211.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with knowntechniques, functionality at the server side of the network may bedistributed over a plurality of different computers. For example,elements may be run as a single “engine” on one server or a separateserver may be provided. For example, the game server 205 could run arandom generator engine. Alternatively, a separate random numbergenerator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the artwill appreciate that a plurality of game servers could be provided torun different games or a single game server may run a plurality ofdifferent games based on the terminals.

Further Detail of Gaming System

The player operates the game play mechanism 56 to specify the winentitlement which will be evaluated for this play of the game andinitiates a play of the game. Persons skilled in the art will appreciatethat a player's win entitlement will vary from game to game dependent onplayer selections. In most spinning reel games, it is typical for theplayer's entitlement to be affected by the amount they wager andselections they make (i.e. the nature of the wager). For example, aplayer's win entitlement may be based on how many lines they play ineach game—e.g. a minimum of one line up to the maximum number of linesallowed by the game (noting that not all permutations of win lines maybe available for selection). Such win lines are typically formed by acombination of symbol display positions, one from each reel, the symboldisplay positions being located relative to one another such that theyform a line.

In many games, the player's win entitlement is not strictly limited tothe lines they have selected, for example, “scatter” pays are awardedindependently of a player's selection of pay lines and are an inherentpart of the win entitlement.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments,the player may obtain a win entitlement by selecting a number of reelsto play. Such games are marketed under the trade name “Reel Power” byAristocrat Leisure Industries Pty Ltd. The selection of the reel meansthat each displayed symbol of the reel can be substituted for a symbolat one or more designated display positions. In other words, all symbolsdisplayed at symbol display positions corresponding to a selected reelcan be used to form symbol combinations with symbols displayed at adesignated, symbol display positions of the other reels. For example, ifthere are five reels and three symbol display positions for each reelsuch that the symbol display positions include three rows of five symboldisplay positions, the symbols displayed in the centre row are used fornon-selected reels. As a result, the total number of ways to win isdetermined by multiplying the number of active display positions of eachreels, the active display positions being all display positions of eachselected reel and the designated display position of the non-selectedreels. As a result for five reels and fifteen display positions thereare 243 ways to win.

In other embodiments a player win entitlement may be affected bypurchasing access to particular pay tables—e.g. a first bet amountentitles the player to wins including cherries and a second amountentitles them to wins including plums.

In FIG. 9, the processor 62 of game controller 60 is shown implementinga number of modules based on program code and data stored in memory 64.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that various of the modulescould be implemented in some other way, for example by a dedicatedcircuit.

These modules include the outcome generator 622 which operates inresponse to the player's operation of game play mechanism 56 to place awager and initiate a play of the game and generates a game outcome whichwill then be evaluated by award evaluator 623. The first part of formingthe game outcome is for a symbol selector 622A to select symbols from aset of symbols specified by symbol data 641 using random numbergenerator 621. The selected symbols are advised to the displaycontroller 624 which causes them to be displayed on display 54 at a setof display positions. The award evaluator may also determine, in theevent of a winning outcome, if the winning outcome corresponds to anyactive conditions and if so determined triggers an additional award tobe made.

The processor may also include an active condition selector 626 whichdetermines which, if any, of the set of conditions are active andtriggers the display controller to display the active conditions. Theactive condition selector may be configured to recurrently change one ormore active conditions.

One example of selecting symbols is for the symbol selector 622A toselect symbols for display from a plurality of symbol sets correspondingto respective ones of a plurality of spinning reels. The symbol sets 641can specify a sequence of symbols for each reel such that the symbolselector 622A can select all of the symbols by selecting a stoppingposition in the sequence. In one example, three symbols of each of fivereels may be displayed such that symbols are displayed at fifteendisplay positions on display 54. It is known to use a probability tablestored in memory 64 to vary the odds of a particular stop position beingselected. Other techniques can be used to control the odds of particularoutcomes occurring to thereby control the return to player of the game.

In some embodiments, an eligibility criteria may be applied, for examplethat the player has made a certain sized wager, made an ante bet,selected all win lines, played sufficient games, or the player is amember of a loyalty program.

The trigger event may be a symbol combination in the game, occurrence ofa specific symbol in the game, purchased, be caused by another connectedsystem, based on turnover etc.

A game round involves at least one of the reels being “spun”—e.g. newsymbols of the reels are selected for display at the display positionsand the reel is either physically or virtually spun to a stop. Personsskilled in the art will appreciate that there may be more than one gameround in a play of a gaming machine such as is the case when a series offree spins is awarded. The outcome of a game round may be no win, a win(for example from a winning combination of symbols), a contributiontowards a win accrued over a plurality of game rounds, a triggercondition occurring etc.

Further aspects of the method will be apparent from the abovedescription of the gaming system. Persons skilled in the art will alsoappreciate that the method could be embodied in program code. Theprogram code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on acomputer readable storage medium, such as a disc or a memory (forexample, that could replace part of memory 103) or as a data signal (forexample, by transmitting it from a server).

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the inventionthat many modifications may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention; in particular it will be apparent thatcertain features of embodiments of the invention can be employed to formfurther embodiments.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein,such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art formsa part of the common general knowledge in the art in any country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of theinvention, except where the context requires otherwise due to expresslanguage or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variationssuch as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e.to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude thepresence or addition of further features in various embodiments of theinvention.

One or more of the components of the systems and/or blocks of themethods described above may be implemented alone or in combination inhardware, firmware, and/or as a set of instructions in software, forexample. Certain embodiments may be provided as a set of instructionsresiding on a computer-readable medium, such as a memory, hard disk,DVD, or CD, for execution on a general purpose computer or otherprocessing device. Certain embodiments of the present invention may omitone or more of the method blocks and/or perform the blocks in adifferent order than the order listed. For example, some blocks may notbe performed in certain embodiments of the present invention. As afurther example, certain blocks may be performed in a different temporalorder, including simultaneously, than listed above.

Certain examples include computer-readable media for carrying or havingcomputer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Suchcomputer-readable media may be any available media that may be accessedby a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with aprocessor. By way of example, such computer-readable media may compriseRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, CD-ROM or other optical diskstorage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or anyother medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code inthe form of computer-executable instructions or data structures andwhich can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computeror other machine with a processor. Combinations of the above are alsoincluded within the scope of computer-readable media.Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions anddata which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer,or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function orgroup of functions.

Generally, computer-executable instructions include routines, programs,objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform particulartasks or implement particular abstract data types. Computer-executableinstructions, associated data structures, and program modules representexamples of program code for executing steps of certain methods andsystems disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executableinstructions or associated data structures represent examples ofcorresponding acts for implementing the functions described in suchsteps.

Examples can be practiced in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers having processors. Logicalconnections may include a local area network (LAN) and a wide areanetwork (WAN) that are presented here by way of example and notlimitation. Such networking environments are commonplace in office-wideor enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet and mayuse a wide variety of different communication protocols. Those skilledin the art will appreciate that such network computing environments willtypically encompass many types of computer system configurations,including personal computers, hand-held devices, multi-processorsystems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics,network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Examplescan also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasksare performed by local and remote processing devices that are linked(either by hardwired links, wireless links, or by a combination ofhardwired or wireless links) through a communications network. In adistributed computing environment, program modules may be located inboth local and remote memory storage devices.

An exemplary system for implementing the overall system or portions ofembodiments of the invention might include a general purpose computingdevice in the form of a computer, including a processing unit, a systemmemory, and a system bus that couples various system componentsincluding the system memory to the processing unit. The system memorymay include read only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). Thecomputer may also include a magnetic hard disk drive for reading fromand writing to a magnetic hard disk, a magnetic disk drive for readingfrom or writing to a removable magnetic disk, and an optical disk drivefor reading from or writing to a removable optical disk such as a CD ROMor other optical media. The drives and their associatedcomputer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage ofcomputer-executable instructions, data structures, program modules andother data for the computer.

While the invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to theparticular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include allembodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A gaming system comprising: a plurality of symbol display positions;a display area; and a game controller operatively coupled to theplurality of symbol display positions and the display area, andconfigured to: cause the display area to display any currently activecondition of a set of conditions; select symbols for display in each ofthe display positions; evaluate the displayed symbols to determinewhether the symbols correspond to one or more winning outcomes of aplurality of possible winning outcomes, at least two of the possiblewinning outcomes corresponding to different conditions of the set ofconditions; make an award in respect of each winning outcome; and makean additional award upon there being a winning outcome which correspondsto an active condition.
 2. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1,wherein the additional award is an award of one or more free games.
 3. Agaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the additional award is anaward of a feature game.
 4. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1,wherein the additional award is an award of an additional prize.
 5. Agaming system defined by claim 1 wherein the controller is arranged torecurrently change at least one of the any currently active condition.6. A gaming system defined by claim 5 wherein the controller is arrangedto change the active condition after one of: a designated number ofsymbol selections; a designated number of plays of the game; adesignated time period.
 7. A gaming system defined by claim 1 whereinmore than one of the conditions constituting the set of conditions arearranged on the display area.
 8. A gaming system defined by claim 7wherein the more than one conditions are arranged in a circle on thedisplay area.
 9. A gaming system defined by claim 7 wherein the activecondition is indicated.
 10. A gaming system defined by claim 9 whereinthe active condition is indicated by an indicator associated with thedisplay area.
 11. A gaming system defined by claim 8 wherein the circleof the plurality of conditions rotates.
 12. A gaming system defined byclaim 9 wherein the indicator rotates.
 13. A gaming system defined byclaim 11 wherein the rotation changes the active condition.
 14. A gamingsystem defined by claim 11 wherein the rotation is persistent.
 15. Agaming system defined by claim 9 wherein the indicator comprises alight.
 16. A gaming system defined by claim 1 wherein the display areacomprises the face of a timepiece comprising one or more hands.
 17. Agaming system defined by claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of symboldisplay positions each have an associated reel, each reel having atleast some of the plurality of symbols.
 18. A gaming system defined byclaim 1 further comprising an electronic display.
 19. A gaming systemdefined by claim 17 further comprising an electronic display and theplurality of reels are simulated on the electronic display.
 20. A gamingsystem defined by claim 18 wherein the display area is on the electronicdisplay.
 21. A gaming system defined by claim 1 wherein each conditionof the set of conditions comprise one of the signs of the zodiac.
 22. Agame controller configured to be operatively coupled to a plurality ofsymbol display positions and a display area, and further configured to:cause the display area to display any currently active condition of aset of conditions; select symbols for display in each of the displaypositions; evaluate the displayed symbols to determine whether thesymbols correspond to one or more winning outcomes of a plurality ofpossible winning outcomes, at least two of the possible winning outcomescorresponding to different conditions of the set of conditions; make anaward in respect of each winning outcome; and make an additional awardupon there being a winning outcome which corresponds to an activecondition.
 23. A method comprising: causing a display area to displayany currently active condition of a set of conditions; selecting symbolsfor display in each of a plurality of symbol display positions;evaluating the displayed symbols to determine whether the symbolscorrespond to one or more winning outcomes of a plurality of possiblewinning outcomes, at least two of the possible winning outcomescorresponding to different conditions of the set of conditions; makingan award in respect of each winning outcome; and making an additionalaward upon there being a winning outcome which corresponds to an activecondition.
 24. A tangible computer readable medium including a computerprogram comprising instructions for controlling a computer to implementa method comprising: causing a display area to display any currentlyactive condition of a set of conditions; selecting symbols for displayin each of a plurality of symbol display positions; evaluating thedisplayed symbols to determine whether the symbols correspond to one ormore winning outcomes of a plurality of possible winning outcomes, atleast two of the possible winning outcomes corresponding to differentconditions of the set of conditions; making an award in respect of eachwinning outcome; and making an additional award upon there being awinning outcome which corresponds to an active condition.